Have you seen the commercial where a child is running across the floor spilling cereal as he or she goes? You then hear the voice of what is obviously the mother saying “Alexa, buy more cereal.” Then the disembodied voice says “Alexa, tell Roomba to vacuum.” The next picture is of the robot vacuum cleaning up the cereal.
Geek that I am I get a kick out of that commercial. It’s like watching “The Jetsons” come to life. (That link is for you, Millenials) It also always triggers my desire to buy a Roomba. Yes, it’s an Alexa commercial but it’s the Roomba I find interesting. I’ve been wanting one for a few years but just haven’t been able to justify it. I find vacuuming very boring so having some automated way to do it is intriguing. However, my fear is that I’d spend the money and then find the darn thing caught in a corner where it's run it's battery down because it couldn't get out. Whether that is a legitimate fear or not I don't know. Seeing the commercial recently wetted my desire for one again so I’ve done a little research. Here’s what I found out to look for when you’re shopping for a robot vacuum cleaner.
Cost
Robot vacuum cleaners typically retail from $100 to about $700. Of course, units with higher quality features cost a lot more. If you want a unit that can withstand heavy use, you will have to pay a premium price.
Battery life
The best robot vacuums can run for two hours or longer. That’s particularly important if you have a big place—you don’t want to have to keep recharging your vacuum between cleanings. It’s especially convenient if you have a vacuum that can automatically dock and recharge between uses.
Cleaning patterns
Simpler, more inexpensive vacuums may only clean in a random or back-and-forth pattern, while more advanced vacuums can virtually map a room for more precise cleaning. It’s also better if the vacuum is capable of making multiple passes in its pattern, as it’ll lead to a more thorough cleaning job.
Size and design
Most robot vacuum cleaners are no more than four inches tall so they can move under furniture. Still, pay attention to the height of your vacuum and the clearance of your furniture, so that you don’t end up with a vacuum that can’t get to important spots. Also, consider your floor type—some vacuums are better-suited for hardwood floors and tile, while others are better for carpeted floors.
Benefits
The most obvious benefit of the robot vacuum is the ability to set it to clean while you are away. This offers you an opportunity to do something else with the extra time you save. However, there are actually quite a few benefits other than time-saving convenience such as:
- They are perfect for anyone with mobility issues because all they have to do is set the vacuum to do the cleaning on a regular schedule. Hmm, sounds like a good gift for an elderly parent I know.
- Some units come with advanced features that allow them to detect the amount of dirt in an area. This feature allows the unit to linger for longer on a dirty area until it is completely clean.
- Units with advanced sensors let them differentiate between different surfaces. This means the vacuum cleaner can sense and adjust settings when it is cleaning over a carpet or operating over wood or tiles.
- A self-recharging unit senses that the power charge is low so it heads back to base for a recharge when needed. How cool is that?
- If you buy the right robot vacuum cleaner, you will enjoy lengthy service from it. These units require minimal maintenance as long as it does not encounter any external damage.
- Some of the small robot cleaners have the ability to go round corners and also beneath seats to clean those hard to reach areas you are unable to access with the ordinary vacuum cleaner.
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